The most concise statement about the unity of religions:
Quote from Haidakhan Babaji:
***
I have made a comparison in the
form of a table.
The goal is not to increase the debate about the details, but to find common ground. There are differences in religions, but, as a rule, in not the most important provisions. The discrepancies are explained by the fact that the teachings arose at different times in different countries.
Further are the excerpts from the table in the text version.
Samsara
In Christianity.
~ Consequences of original sin, ~ Tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a separation from the Absolute and independent actions and the search for truth. After the merger (return), the knowledge of good and evil no longer occurs, but there are only right actions after submission to the will of higher forces. (What Ramalinga and Yogananda are talking about).
In Islam
"The life of this world is merely an illusory enjoyment.". (Sura 3, verse 185).
Samsara is a cycle of birth and death, full of suffering due to desires and temptations.
Samadhi
In Christianity. Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)". Samadhi is merging with the Absolute. Jesus must have been in a similar state.
In Islam. "Verily, we belong to Allah and to Him we will return." (Sura 2, verse 156).
Karma
Christianity.
"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully". (2 Corinthians 9:6).
"For they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8:7).
Islam.
Sawab is a reward that Allah will give in the next life for good, virtuous and charitable deeds in earthly life.
Prayers
In Hinduism and Buddhism:
japa.
In Islam:
Dhikr.
Hell
In Hinduism: the lower
lokas, in which evil spirits live. For example, Pishacha-loka, Rakshasa-loka.
In Islam:
Jahannam.
In Buddhism:
Naraka.
Paradise
In Hinduism: Higher lokas (Ananda-loka, Rudra-loka), etc.
(
More about lokas - at about the middle of the page).
Quotes:
In Islam:
Jannah.
In Buddhism:
Sukhavati.
10 commandments (in Christianity)
In Hinduism:
yamas and
niyama. (The match is not complete.)
In Islam, they are found in various places in the scriptures.
In Buddhism:
Five precepts,
Noble Eightfold Path.
Some examples
Hinduism. Ahimsa is non-violence.
Christianity. Thou shalt not kill.
Islam. "Do not take a ˹human˺ life — made sacred by Allah — except with ˹legal˺ right." (Al-An'am, 6:151).
Buddhism. Abstention from killing living beings.
Hinduism. Satya - truthfulness.
Christianity. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Islam. “...those who do not give false testimony” (Surah Furqan, 25:72).
Buddhism. Abstention from speaking lies (falsehood).
Hinduism. Achourya - non-appropriation of someone else's (non-stealing);
Christianity. Thou shalt not steal..
Islam. "in the Qur'an Allah, describing pious people says: “nor will they steal”. (Surah Mumtahanah, 60:12).
Buddhism. Abstention from theft.
Hinduism. Brahmacharya - chastity
Christianity. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Islam. "Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils)." (Surah Al-Isra, 17:32).
Buddhism. Abstention from sexual misconduct.
Thy will be done... (in Christianity, Matthew 6:9-13)
Hinduism.
Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya (One of the possible translations: "Thy will be done").
Islam. Everything is the will of Allah (
Inshallah). "And never say about anything: "I shall certainly do this tomorrow" (but say) "unless Allah should will it." 18:23, 24.
Omnipotence of God
In Islam. "If Allah helps you none shall prevail over you; if He forsakes you then who can help you? It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust." (Sura 3, verse 160)
In Hinduism, this idea is expressed in the Mahabharata. God (Krishna) asked the belligerents what they choose: to one He will give all His weapons, to the side of others He will take the side himself. The negative side chose weapons and lost.
In Christianity. "... (God) is not only much-powerful or great-powerful, but also all-powerful..." (Saint Mark of Ephesus, "Essay on the Jesus Prayer").
Omnipresence
Hinduism. "Everything rests in Me, as beads strung on a thread." Bhagavad Gita, 7.7.
Christianity. "Whither shall I from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." (Psalms 139:7-10)
Islam. "Oh, verily, unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth!" (Sura 10, verse 55)".
Non-attachment to matter and concentration on the high
Hinduism.
"Those who are not attached to external sense pleasures realize divine bliss in the self. Being united with God through yog, they experience unending happiness." Bhagavad Gita, 5.21.
Christianity.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33).
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21).
Islam. "And whatever thing you [people] have been given - it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting." (Qur'an 28:60)
Buddhism. The cause of suffering is (earthly) desires.
Note.
Buddhism does not talk about God, but Buddhists strive for about the same things as in other religions: enlightenment, liberation. Through the development of noble qualities and spiritual practices.
